Atlanta Falcons general manager Ian Cunningham addresses the dynamic between quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa.
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Lots of big deals being signed, and also some very small ones.
Lots of big deals being signed, and also some very small ones.
Tua Tagovailoa inking a one-year minimum contract.
Tua Tagovailoa inking a one-year minimum contract.
The Dolphins will pay him the rest of the 54 million that he’s owed in 2026.
The Dolphins will pay him the rest of the 54 million that he’s owed in 2026.
Next up for Tua, an off-season quarterback battle with Michael Penix Jr.
Next up for Tua, an off-season quarterback battle with Michael Penix Jr.
Here’s GM Ian Cunningham.
Here’s GM Ian Cunningham.
For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete, just like Michael knows that he’s coming in to compete, and everybody, quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position, but everybody’s coming in to compete.
For Tua coming in here, he knows he’s coming in to compete, just like Michael knows that he’s coming in to compete, and everybody, quite frankly, not just those two at the quarterback position, but everybody’s coming in to compete.
there’s no starters right now and, you know, we’re excited to have Tua, but we’re excited to have all the players that we were able to get this free agent class.
there’s no starters right now and, you know, we’re excited to have Tua, but we’re excited to have all the players that we were able to get this free agent class.
You guys talked to Michael before the Tua addition and say, “This is what we’re doing, this is our thought process,” or do you feel like that needs to happen?
You guys talked to Michael before the Tua addition and say, “This is what we’re doing, this is our thought process,” or do you feel like that needs to happen?
Or is it just the same as you’re bringing in another defensive tackle, this is what we do?
Or is it just the same as you’re bringing in another defensive tackle, this is what we do?
Yeah, good, good question, Josh.
Yeah, good, good question, Josh.
you know, how we do everything, man, it’s, it’s, Yes, to answer your question, yes, y- we talked to him.
you know, how we do everything, man, it’s, it’s, Yes, to answer your question, yes, y- we talked to him.
Kevin, Kevin talked to him.
Kevin, Kevin talked to him.
I talked to his agent, when we knew that this was the, the direction we’re going.
I talked to his agent, when we knew that this was the, the direction we’re going.
It’s just, again, you just wanna You don’t want to blindside somebody.
It’s just, again, you just wanna You don’t want to blindside somebody.
and that’s just how we operate, right?
and that’s just how we operate, right?
we wanna have open conversations and communication, and feel like we, we did that, with, in regards to Michael and, and Tua.
we wanna have open conversations and communication, and feel like we, we did that, with, in regards to Michael and, and Tua.
I don’t know if Ian Cunningham meant it this way, Mike, but there’s a couple things he says there that stands out relative h- to how the Falcons quarterback situation was handled over the past couple years.
I don’t know if Ian Cunningham meant it this way, Mike, but there’s a couple things he says there that stands out relative h- to how the Falcons quarterback situation was handled over the past couple years.
Number one, we don’t blindside people, which is what happened to Kirk Cousins six weeks after he signed a massive contract, and then they went and drafted Michael Penix Jr. Two, we don’t wanna be in the business of handing out starting jobs in March, which if you remember, Raheem Morris, even last year, repeatedly said, “There is no competition.
Number one, we don’t blindside people, which is what happened to Kirk Cousins six weeks after he signed a massive contract, and then they went and drafted Michael Penix Jr. Two, we don’t wanna be in the business of handing out starting jobs in March, which if you remember, Raheem Morris, even last year, repeatedly said, “There is no competition.
It is going to be Michael Penix Jr.” When you size up this competition, Mike, what do you see?
It is going to be Michael Penix Jr.” When you size up this competition, Mike, what do you see?
Well, their blindside is the same side, it’s the right side, so that helps you in that, your entire offense will be working with a left-handed quarterback, no matter who’s taking the reps between the two of these guys.
Well, their blindside is the same side, it’s the right side, so that helps you in that, your entire offense will be working with a left-handed quarterback, no matter who’s taking the reps between the two of these guys.
Look, Tom, even with Kyler Murray, it’s a similar situation in that small contract that you were talking about, because the previous team for both of those guys is picking up, the tab on the guaranteed money that they owe them.
Look, Tom, even with Kyler Murray, it’s a similar situation in that small contract that you were talking about, because the previous team for both of those guys is picking up, the tab on the guaranteed money that they owe them.
That allows you to say, “Look, this guy’s not coming in with a, Malik Willis type deal,” right?
That allows you to say, “Look, this guy’s not coming in with a, Malik Willis type deal,” right?
yes, he’s making a ton of money, but they’re paying all that.
yes, he’s making a ton of money, but they’re paying all that.
We’re paying the veteran minimum.
We’re paying the veteran minimum.
So that allows you a little bit for that, and also you’ve got in guys like Michael Penix and J.J. McCarthy, somebody to push him, right?
So that allows you a little bit for that, and also you’ve got in guys like Michael Penix and J.J. McCarthy, somebody to push him, right?
And to see how they respond, because this is a high pressure job, to be an NFL quarterback, and sometimes a little bit of competition can help make that happen.
And to see how they respond, because this is a high pressure job, to be an NFL quarterback, and sometimes a little bit of competition can help make that happen.
And when you can get that at a high level for a low salary, that really helps you in that regard.
And when you can get that at a high level for a low salary, that really helps you in that regard.
So I’m looking forward to both of these competitions.
So I’m looking forward to both of these competitions.